March 1, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to complete their comeback attempt in the four-game baseball series opener versus Sterling (Kan.) Friday at Sterling College Baseball Complex.  The Trojans fell short by the score of 3-2 in the first game.  DSU held off the Warriors in the second game 5-4 to earn the doubleheader split.

Dakota State is 9-5 overall record.  Sterling, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, is 10-5 overall record.

Both teams play another doubleheader Saturday afternoon, with the first game starting at 12 noon.

Game 1:  Sterling (Kan.) 3, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL

The Warriors grabbed the first lead of the game in the bottom first inning at 1-0, thanks to a solo home run with two outs by Andrew Dutro.

DSU was unable to convert their scoring opportunity in the top second inning after leaving the bases full.  Cade Wenninger led off with a double, while Aidan Perry and Dawson Portner each added a walk.

The Trojans' defense halted the Warriors' scoring opportunities in the bottom fourth frame with bases loaded situation.

Dutro drilled a 2-RBI double in the bottom fifth inning to balloon Sterling's lead to 3-0.

Dakota State mounted a comeback in the top seventh inning.  Jeremy Green reached on base after a defensive error by the Warriors.  He advanced to second base after SC's wild pitch. 

Ryan McDaniel produced an RBI single to score Green as the Trojans trailed 3-1 in the top seventh.  Walker Hultgren followed up with a single and advanced Seth Altwine, courtesy runner for McDaniel, to second base.

Cassidy Watt hit an RBI single to score Altwine as Dakota State trimmed Sterling's lead to 3-2.  Wenninger followed up with a single and advanced Watt to second base.

The Trojans were unable to continue as Sterling secured the victory with two runners left on base.

DSU outhit SC 9-6 in the game.  Dakota State left 11 runners on base compared to Sterling seven runners left on base.

Wenninger paced the Trojans with a double and single.  Hultgren was 2-for-2 at the plate with two singles and two walks.  McDaniel and Watt each added a single and an RBI.  Green and Ned Ceklic each added a hit.

Dutro went 2-of-3 at the plate with a double, single, and drove in three runs.  Albert Bisono added two hits.  Luis Morales had a double.  Dustin Chartrand recorded a single.

Sam Tyrpa (L, 1-2) took the defeat on the pitching mound for Dakota State, despite striking out 12 Warrior batters in 5 2/3 innings.  He allowed three runs on six hits.  Aiden Urbom worked the final out of the sixth inning in relief.

David Lira (W, 3-0) earned the victory in six innings for Sterling.  He limited the Trojans to five hits and registered six strikeouts.  He issued five walks.  Chartrand (S, 1) recorded his first save of the season after tossing the seventh inning, giving up two runs (one unearned) on four hits.

Game 2:  Dakota State (S.D.) 5, Sterling (Kan.) 4 – FINAL

Nate Heffline smashed a solo home run with two outs in the bottom second frame of the second game for SC 1-0 lead.

Dakota State plated three runs in the top third inning to overtake the lead with two outs.  With Bubba Thompson on second base and Portner on first base, Ceklic drilled a 2-RBI double to score Thompson and Portner to give DSU a 2-1 lead.

McDaniel followed up with a single to advance Ceklic to third base in the top third.  Hultgren produced an RBI single to score Ceklic to extend Dakota State's lead to 3-1.

The Warriors scored one run in the bottom fourth to trim DSU's lead to 3-2.  Eduardo Tarafa led off with a double and then went on to score on a wild pitch.

McDaniel hit a double with two outs in the top fifth inning for Dakota State.  Hultgren hit an RBI single to score courtesy runner Altwine to make it 4-2 in favor of the Trojans.  Watt followed up with an RBI double to score Hultgren to balloon Dakota State' lead to 5-2.

Sterling scored two runs in the bottom sixth inning, highlighted by Nate Heffline's RBI single.  The Warriors added a run caused by DSU's defensive error (Trojans led 5-4).

The Warriors left a runner on first base in the final inning, securing the victory for Dakota State.

DSU tallied seven hits in the game compared to SC five hits.  The Trojans committed three defensive errors compared to the Warriors two defensive errors.

Hultgren led Dakota State with two hits and two RBIs.  Ceklic added a double and two RBIs.  Watt had a double and an RBI.  McDaniel tallied a double and a single.  Thompson had a single.  Michael Buchmann swiped one base.

Heffline collected a home run, single, and two RBIs for Sterling.  Tarafa added two doubles.  Morales recorded a single.

Hunter Vikemyr (W, 3-1) earned the victory after pitching five innings for the Trojans.  He allowed two runs on three hits and recorded five strikeouts.  JD Kirchner (S, 3) earned the save in relief, giving up two runs on two hits.  He registered three strikeouts.

Trenton Canaan (L, 2-2) recorded the defeat for the Warriors.  He allowed five runs on seven hits.  Tyler Duffey tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.  He struck out three DSU's batters.